Facilities Required for Mushroom Production

Most important facilities required for mushroom production are,
1. Substrate preparation area
2. Compost turners
3. Pasteurization area and inoculation area (spawning facility)
4. Mushroom growing area
Substrate Preparation Area
Substrate preparation area should be located away from the mushroom growing area. It
is better this area has a concrete floor so that substrate can be chopped and mixed well. The
substrate preparation area should have,
1. A hammer mill to chop the substrate materials into small pieces
2. A stock of substrate materials
Compost Turners
Now the chopped substrate must be composted using compost turners before it is ready
to be used for mushroom growing. The composting process requires that the substrate is kept
wet for several weeks.
Pasteurization Area
This area is meant for pasteurization process of composted substrate. It is said that
anyone can grow mushrooms if properly prepared substrate is used.
Mushroom Growing Area
The most important facility required for mushroom growing is a window-less, air-tight
building. It can be a metal building covered by polyethylene or a concrete building or a bamboo
house insulated with straw and polyethylene sheet. A mushroom growing area should have
following requirements:
1. A temperature of 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F) and relative humidity of 80 to 95%
2. Good ventilation and Light: mushrooms are formed when carbon di oxide level
is low and hence proper ventilation is required to remove carbon dioxide formed inside
the building. Centrifugal blowers may be used to supply air circulation. For light
requirements, fluorescent lights are generally used
3. Proper Hygiene and Sanitation: Air inlets and exits should have a filter to let
only filtered air circulated within the building. This is particularly helpful to keep pests
and disease-causing pathogens away
4. Shelves, made from bamboo or wood: These shelves are strong enough to hold substrate bags